Phillies shut out Padres: 3 takeaways from NLCS Game 1

NLCS takeaways: Phillies bullpen will win or lose this series

There was a time not so long ago where the Phillies bullpen could not be depended on. Where taking out Wheeler after just over 80 pitches would’ve been considered baseball suicide.

Thomson shouldn’t test his luck, as this unit is far from perfect. Yet, the Phils seem to have a system that’s working for them at the back end. Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado have been excellent this postseason, and that is the pair they must ride this series and beyond if they’re to complete a storybook ending.

Philadelphia has the starting staff to work late in games. The middle relief brings more questions than answers, and still has a lot to prove.

Dominguez proved Thomson right for taking out Wheeler. Alvarado, of course, was more of a rollercoaster, though not all of that was necessarily his fault.

In the end, the Phillies came away with a victory. But it can never be easy.